LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the importance of “upholding Israel’s democratic values” during his low-key meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in London on Friday, in a visit largely overshadowed by the Israeli leader’s domestic troubles.
While the Israeli reading of the meeting did not mention anything about the judicial overhaul that is dominating headlines about Israel around the world, the British reading noted that Sunak stressed to Netanyahu “the importance of upholding the democratic values that underpin our relationship , also in the proposed judicial reforms in Israel.”
The 10 Downing Street statement also highlighted “international concerns about rising tensions in the West Bank” and encouraged “all efforts to de-escalate, particularly ahead of the upcoming religious holidays”.
Netanyahu’s convoy was greeted in London on Friday morning by several hundred Israeli and Jewish protesters chanting against the prime minister and his government’s controversial judicial overhaul.
He greeted and shook hands with Sunak outside 10 Downing Street before the couple quickly entered the British Prime Minister’s residence.
Video from the scene showed Netanyahu walking toward the residence as cries of “shame” echoed up the street.
The meeting with Sunak also appeared to be toned down and, in an unusual move, there was no public address from either leader. Reporters traveling with Netanyahu were initially told they could enter 10 Downing Street for opening statements before the two leaders met behind closed doors, but were then told on Friday morning that no reporters would enter to hear the first comments from the leader couple to document. Reasons were not given.
Sunak has been pressured in recent days to comment publicly on Israel’s controversial judicial shakeup, leading to speculation that he has decided to refrain from public comment with Netanyahu to avoid comment.
During Netanyahu’s visit to Berlin last week, he and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly quarreled during a press conference over the government’s ongoing legislative push that will significantly expand political control over Israel’s courts.
After Friday’s meeting, Netanyahu’s office said his talks with Sunak focused on the Iranian nuclear threat and he thanked the British prime minister for his position on the issue, but noted that more pressure needed to be put on Tehran. Sunak’s statement said the two leaders discussed Iran and “agreed that our governments will continue to work closely together to roll back aggression and manage the risk of nuclear proliferation.”
Netanyahu also said that he invited Sunak to visit Israel in the near future. According to the British advert, Sunak said he “looks forward to visiting Israel as soon as possible”.
Anti-Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu protesters near Dowing Street in central London, as Netanyahu is received by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, March 24, 2023 (Sharon Shochat/#DefendIsraeliDemocracy)
Netanyahu was due to meet with UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman later on Friday, also without any public statements or press conference. He currently has no other official meetings scheduled during his trip – and no meetings with Jewish community leaders – but is scheduled to remain in London until early Sunday morning.
Netanyahu has been widely criticized for recently spending several weekends with his wife in European capitals at taxpayer expense.
Hundreds of protesters, waving Israeli flags and signs denouncing Netanyahu’s government, saluted the Prime Minister outside 10 Downing Street. The protesters held signs reading ‘Save Israeli Democracy’ and ‘Put Bibi behind bars’ and chanted ‘Shame’ and “democracy” in Hebrew.
A pro-Palestinian protest also gathered across the street ahead of the Sunak-Netanyahu meeting, with each side trying to drown out the other with chants and speeches.
Shauna Ash, an Israeli who now lives in London, said she came out to demonstrate “for Israel’s democracy.”
“I have a lot of friends and family in Israel and the changes [overhaul] What we have on them is going to be disastrous, so it’s my way of showing my support,” she said.
Demonstrators protest in Whitehall ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street in central London March 24, 2023. (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES / AFP)
Alan Curtis, a British Jew, said he attended the protest “because I think this is a threat not just to Israel, but to the entire Zionist enterprise and the Jewish people,” he said.
Curtis said his family and friends in Israel “are going to demonstrate every Saturday night, so I can’t do the bare minimum to come here.” He said he hopes Sunak will publicly comment on the controversy, but doesn’t expect a comment “because I know how British diplomacy works and it would be considered interference”.
Netanyahu has been greeted by protests from Israelis and Jews on all of his recent foreign visits, continuing the widespread protests that have rocked Israel over the past two months.
Among other things, it looks like the legislative package will allow the Knesset to overrule court decisions by the slimmest majority, pre-emptively protect laws from judicial oversight, and place judge selection in the hands of coalition politicians.
While proponents say the judiciary reform will balance power away from an overly activist court, critics argue the moves remove essential controls over the executive and legislative branches, jeopardize democracy and leave the rights of many undefended.
Netanyahu arrived in London at the same time as Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara issued a scathing statement informing the prime minister that he had breached the conflict of interest agreement that allows him to govern amid his ongoing corruption trial and named his statements on Thursday evening and any further involvement in the coalition’s judicial review was “illegal and afflicted with a conflict of interest”.
Demonstrators protest in Whitehall ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Downing Street in central London March 24, 2023. (Photo by ISABEL INFANTES / AFP)
Baharav-Miara’s harshly worded letter came after Netanyahu announced that he would henceforth ignore the conflict of interest deal and become deeply involved in the unfolding, deeply controversial judicial review legislation.
The trip to London is the third straight weekend that Netanyahu has jetted to a European capital, having visited Rome and Berlin in the past two weeks.
Netanyahu and his family have been accused in the past of generously spending taxpayers’ money on the creature’s comfort or personal expenses; In 2013, he came under fire because the state spent $127,000 to fit a plane with a bed so he could get some sleep during a four-hour flight to London for Margaret Thatcher’s funeral.
The prime minister’s office claims the timing of the trips will be dictated by the schedules of the hosts and that he cannot stay away from the Knesset during the week because of crucial votes on the judiciary review and other coalition priorities.
The meeting was Sunak’s first with a senior Israeli official since taking office in October. In November he met President Isaac Herzog on the sidelines of the UN climate summit in Egypt.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.